The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-04-27

or MS cause; Self-polSed IN the counSelS of his
own mind, doing nothing raShly, and yet moth
ing timidly or doubtfully; ready to immediate
himself for the right which his State had en-
trusted to his defense, this noble brave man. on
whose brow God had set the seal of truth whose
eye beamed bright with the devotion that fired
his soul-couiage, maulineSs, sincerity, truth in
every tore and look-greatness in every Inca
ment of his couutenance-stood alone and pre-
vailed. Yes, prevailed! For the controversy,
when closed, was closed by the compromise act
which repealed the law that his State had null
lifted.
MR.. CALHOUN AS A CIVIL SERVICE REFoRMER.
On Feb 5, 1895, he made report on the ex-
tent of government patronage which startled
the country by its revelations of the enormous
extent to which the abuses of the system had
grown, and the degenerating influences it was
exercising alike upon the government and the
character OF the people Animated and acTi-
monious debates arose in the Senate upon the
facts stated in the report In maintenance of
the positions assumed therein Mr. Calhoun
made speech which is perhaps as applicable
to the present times as it was to those in which
it was delivered. After showing how alarm
ingly the system has grown he pro-
cesded to demonstrate the causes which pro
duced it and gave to it its growth and its dan
gerous influences. At the head of these causes
he placed ''the practice so greatly extended, If
not for the first time introduced of removing
from office persons well qualified and who had
faithfully performed their duty, in order to fill
the places with those who were recommended
on the ground that they belonged to the party in
power. la speaking of the extent of its growth
he stated that Washington in his eight years of
service had made but nine removals; Madison
but five, Monroe but ten, and that he, whilst Sec
retary of War for more than seven years, re-
moved but two, and that for cause.
He said: so long as offices were considered
as public trusts to be conferred on the honest,
the faithful and capable, for the common good
and not for the benefit or gain of the incumbent
or his party; and so long as it was the practice
OF the government TO continue in office those
who faithfully performed their duties, its pa
tronage, III point of fact was limited to the mere
power of nominating to accidental vacancies or
TO newly created offices, and could, of course
exercise but moderate influence either over
the body of the community or of the office
holders themselves; and when the practice was
reversed when offices, instead of being consid-
cred as public trusts, TO be conferred on the de-
serving, were regarded as the spoils of victory
to be bestowed as rewards for partisan
services service :. without respect to merit;
that all who held office, held by the tenure of
partisan zeal and party service it is easy to see
that the certain, direct and inevitable tendency
of such state of things is to convert the entire
body OF those in office into corrupt and supple
Instruments OF power, and to raise up host of
hungry, greedy and subservient partisans, ready
for any service, however base and corrupt
Were a premium offered for the best means of
extending to the utmost the power of patron
age: to destroy love of country; to encourage
vice and discourage virtue; and, in a word, to
prepare for the subverson of liberty and the
tSJdDiSuIlieHb OI u6SI)OliSll, no SCDtIut more
perfect could be devised; and such must be the
tendency of the practice, with whatever inten-
ton adopted to whatever extent pursued"
PLEDGES OF PARTIES AND PUBLIC MEN.
Mr. Lamar quoted from one of Mr.. Cal
houns speeches, in reply to Senator Benton,
of Missouri, with reference to the pledges of
public men, as follows:
Il consider it, said Mr.. Calhoun, "as an evil
dence of that deep degeneracy which precedes
the downfall of a republic, when those elevated
to power forget the promises on which they
were elevated; the certain effect of which is to
is juggling and trckery in politics and to create
an indifference to political struggles highly fa-
vorable to the growth of despotic power'' -
Continuing, Mr.. Lamar said:
/ am proud to say, fellow-citizens, that it
has been my good fortune to be associated with
one against whose administration the only
criticism which has been pronounced is his
sacred regard for similar promises, and the un-
conquerable intrepidity with which he stands by
them.
Mr.. Lamar also paid high compliment
to Senator Butler, of South Carolina, for
the ability, eloquence and firmness with
which he had sustained these doctrines of
Calhoun, and also TO South Carolina for her
recent resolutions ON the subject of
civil service reform, and her support of the
Presidents action on the subject.
SLAVERY.
Fellow -Citizens-The institution of slavery
That question has been settled. Slavery is dead
buried in grave that never gives up its dead.
Why reopen 1t today Let il rest. Yet, IL | re-
main silent upon the subject it will be taken as
an admission that there is one part of Mr.. Cal
houns life of which it is prudent for his friends
to say nothing to the present generation. Dis
stimulation and evasion were 80 foreign to his
character that in his own case no one would
disapprove and even Gisdain such silence more
than he. l have this to say: That with refer
m hn If Fsgt,a1 ut.tv e
slavery in the States, Mr.. Calhoun
never entertained or expressed a senti-
mcnt that was not entertained and expressed
by Henry Clay, John Quincy Adams, Daniel
Webster, aud all the eminent statesmen of his
time. That slavery was an institution of
society in the States, sanctioned and upheld by
the constitution of the United States; that It
was an institution of property, recognized pro-
tected and enforced, even upon the States where
slavery did not exist, by the fundamental law
Of the Union; that it was an institution of
political power which. under the provisions of
tine constitution, increased the representation of
the Southern States on the floor of Congress
and in the electoral college admitted by
every public man in the country who had the
slightest title to position as a statesman.
The only difference between Mr.. Calhoun on
the one hand Webster and Clay and such
statesmen on the other was that the measures
hostile to slavery which they sometimes counte-
nanced, and at other times advocated, he saw
and predicted where in conflict with these guar
antees in the constitution, and that their direct
tendency and inevitable effect, and, in many
cases. avowed motive, was the destruction Of
slavery in the States. And whilst Mr.. Webster
and Mr.. Clay discaimed any SUCH motive aud
denied any such probable effects he declared TO
Mr. Webster in debate that the sentiment would
grow and increase until, in spite of the consti-
tuition. emancipation would be consummated,
and that lie CIR. Webster) would himself be
compelled to succumb to it or be swept down
by it
Mr. Lamar then went on to make quotations
from Calhoun's speeches TO shoE that these
predictions of his came true. In Die course of
his remarks on this subject Mr.. Lamar stated
tnat II Ht this very day the North or ths Ameri-
can Union were TO propose 10 re-establish the
institution the South could not and would not
accept IL as q boon.
4 TRUE son or SOUTH CAROLINA
Mr.. Lamar closed as follows:
Mr. Calhoun was the trTie son of South Caro-
lima. Ills Just fame and great name were the
fruits OF her social system, aud 10 will be her
glory when succeeding generations shall learn
and appreciate the Lessons Of political truth
taught by him and shall inhale his pure spirit Of
patriotism, his exalted conception Of duty, and
become inspired by the honor fidelity, courage
and purity Of life which rooted themselves In
the SOM Of the man whose statue South Carolina
women have erected In commemorHtiOn Of the
alTectionate reverence with which they commend
bin 10 the honor, love- imitation and confidence
OF mankind
Measles at Madison.
MADISON, Wis, April 2G-At least 400
children are said 10 be down with measles
in this city. Many adults are afflicted. The